Simrit announced today that its F273 fuel resistant fluorosilicone material has been approved for the aerospace Qualified Product List (QPL). Simrit is the first and currently the only company approved by the Society of Aerospace Engineers and the Performance Review Institute (PRI) to manufacture the AMS7273-approved material on the QPL. The aerospace-focused approval allows original equipment manufacturers, the government and airlines to select a QPL-approved material from an approved manufacturer thereby eliminating redundant testing criteria and processes.

"Simrit is proud and honored to be listed on the QPL, as it highlights our exceptional material development expertise," said Vinay Nilkanth, vice president global sales aerospace, Simrit. "Inclusion on the QPL allows us to provide aerospace customers with cost effective, qualified materials they can trust in this safety conscious industry."

The QPL is a listing of manufacturers who have received a PRI product qualification approval letter to a precise standard for specific product designations and plant locations. According to PRI, users benefit from the QPL as it reduces unnecessary testing and qualification processes, while maximizing resources and competitiveness. Also, in many cases, tier suppliers to the aerospace industry will not seek bids or proposals unless the material and manufacturing firm are on the QPL. To apply for the approval, the inquiring facility must be AS9100 and Nadcap-approved, have an approved test and validation plan, as well as internal and possibly third party verification results.

"Our QPL-approved F273 material is ideal for fuel control and jet engine companies due to its excellent performance in extreme heat environments," said Dr. Robert W. Keller, materials development manager, Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies. "With its QPL inclusion, our F273 material will be made available to a wider audience, furthering the potential for new aerospace innovations."

The F273 material is manufactured at the company's Santa Ana, Calif. facility for use in high-performance, high-pressure jet fuel systems and is resistant to jet fuels and synthetic turbine lubricants with a typical application temperature range from -70C to +200C. Ideal for use in O-rings, molded shapes and plate seals in fuel controls, as well as valves and pumps on commercial aircraft engine applications, the F273 material's technical advantages are backed by simulated component O-ring testing in high temperature, high pressure fuel systems.